A Pinoy Startup with Silicon Valley Cred

Everyone who buys online in the Philippines know how convoluted it can be. Now a startup called Paymongo claims to have streamlined the process and has in fact garnered some precious endorsement via investments from the famous Silicon Valley tech incubator, Y Combinator. Find out how four intrepid young men, including this story's author, former presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda, was able to gain a foothold in Silicon Valley in "Paymongo -- A Filipino Startup in Silicon Valley."

FilAm novelist Randy Ribay, whose latest book, Patron Saints of Nothing, is longlisted for the National Book Award, offers some inspiring thoughts for aspiring authors in "Randy Ribay, The Writer as Fire Stealer," in an interview by fellow novelist Rafaelito V. Sy.

A trip to sites featured in Game of Thrones led to some interesting discoveries in  Ireland. Our publisher Mona Lisa Yuchengco tells us about it and introduces some Filipinos for "Pinoyspotting and Other Discoveries in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland."

Our Happy Home Cook recipe for Pompano with Chili and Pineapple comes from a new cookbook from well-seasoned chef/entrepreneur Beth Romualdez. Her book is aptly called Cooking Lessons.

In case you missed them, some links to interesting reads:

Nene Pimentel: Courageous stalwart of democracy
https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/profiles/242962-nene-pimentel-obituary?utm_source=Rappler+Subscribers&utm_campaign=ec43cbba1c-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2019_10_21_02_15_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_d18b1557b8-ec43cbba1c-96223989&mc_cid=ec43cbba1c&mc_eid=0c0639d4af

“You’ll never grow hungry in Tondo:” Where to eat in Mayor Isko’s ‘hood, an expert’s guide
https://news.abs-cbn.com/ancx/food-drink/features/10/05/19/youll-never-grow-hungry-in-tondo-where-to-eat-in-mayor-iskos-hood-an-experts-guide?fbclid=IwAR0QC-gWnghO91AxKP1zIUvVT6S0XDa9lN6JA4dlTmO11u3qlkAHLd6ZZCs

Magellan’s Death: A Detailed Description by Antonio Pigafetta
https://www.esquiremag.ph/long-reads/magellans-death-history-a00293-20190425-lfrm2?fbclid=IwAR1xppRFHokrmeEj94Be-d2jQqSWFgjPYWEFMGVmuNQLIqfA54DnRGlSgwE

Larry Itliong, Forgotten Filipino Labor Leader
https://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/19/us/larry-itliong-forgotten-filipino-labor-leader.html

Angela Dimayuga’s 10 Essential Filipino Recipes
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/07/dining/filipino-food-recipes-angela-dimayuga.html

Our Video of the Week is the rousing political commentary cum satire performed by the University of the Philippines Visayas cheering squad.

Current Realities, Past Glories

Current realities and past glories - so goes our issue for this week.

First off, poet/cultural activist Tony Robles reports on the recent talk of Jose Antonio Vargas, the FilAm community's foremost immigration activist, in Asheville, North Carolina. ("'I don't want to have hope. I want to be a Hope.'")

Then we have three brief profiles of FilAm history trailblazers, unsung heroes of the community who should be rightfully honored. Cecil Bonzo, who started the farmers' markets movement, is given tribute by Stockton, CA community leader Elena Buensalido Mangahas. Arlene Lagrimas Dark, Forbidden City "showgirl" and Salvatore Baldomar, Filipino-Italian seafarer, are introduced by fellow Bridge Generation champion, Peter Jamero. ("Filipino American Trailblazers")

LA-based PF Correspondent Anthony Maddela writes about ReWeave LA, an entrepreneurial enterprise of Fil-Chinese Debbie Ouyang that creates quilts, throws, etc. from recycled fabric. ("ReWeave LA: Recycling Fabric Samples Away from Landfills")

For the Happy Home Cook, another vegan recipe (Vegan Laing) from Richgail Enriquez.

Our In the Know links for your reading pleasure: 

This Philippine Library Keeps 30,000 Ancient Books Worth Billions
https://www.esquiremag.ph/long-reads/heritage-library-keeps-ancient-books-worth-billions-a00293-20190528-lfrm?fbclid=IwAR3ta3MffV-rgKL0jdXUiDEY93lRU9Xan2H0xkXckV5OIVnlDy_KKeWnqYI

Why are There So Many Filipino Nurses In California?
https://www.zocalopublicsquare.org/2019/09/30/why-are-there-so-many-filipino-nurses-in-california/ideas/essay/?fbclid=IwAR3rkmx30Wujev97hmWp0PIe6X32N_XNvq7T2_I_2qo8mU3wxbT2Fvpulow

The Uniter: Rudy Corpuz Jr. Reflects On 25 Years Of Community Building & Youth Empowerment Through United Playaz
https://sanfran.com/united-playaz-rudy-corpuz-jr-october-cover-story?fbclid=IwAR2k6zBxXTMYVRhQBlPpOiBTT6gu-uHi7u_VYl2w6WQgZaE4nJigV6HJ92E

8 World Cities That Could Be Underwater as Oceans Rise [Ed note: Manila is one of them.]
https://www.ecowatch.com/cities-vulnerable-sea-level-rise-2610208792.html?xrs=RebelMouse_fb&ts=1538753678&fbclid=IwAR3S1sRtpeA-8-NBBVIEiRly3ZkpT8FRwRzxiNGgLKcB0SsBu4-hf7P_Geo

Spoon Over Fork
https://www.tastecooking.com/spoon-over-fork/?ref=PRHCE30927C7B1D&linkid=PRHCE30927C7B1D&cdi=382BD9807FDB49AFE0534FD66B0A5889&template_id=14339&aid=randohouseinc36030-20&utm_campaign=taste&utm_source=Crown&utm_medium=Email&cid=101930&mid=1643240115

Eulogy for a Gadfly (Remembering Carlos Celdran)
https://www.esquiremag.ph/politics/opinion/carlos-celdran-eulogy-a00226-20191009?fbclid=IwAR0PIYYvlGXo3z2vLtqHsJ1YrBuvA8LgSuigsHaOIT7iIk_tA22oGvGL3Lw

Our Video of the Week is the outstanding winning performance of Filipino gymnast Carlos Edriel Yulo at the recent World Artistic Gymnastics Championship, the first Filipino and Southeast Asian to do so. 

More History for Filipino American History Month

Filipino American History Month continues and PF Correspondent Lisa Suguitan-Melnick introduces us to "The Al Robles Express," a documentary film of a journey to the motherland initiated by esteemed FilAm author/professor Oscar Peñaranda. An interesting concept, this gathering of FilAm writers and artists visiting the Philippines for the first time and watching how the visit affects their works. ("'The Al Robles Express' is on the Right Track")

This month also marks the 75th anniversary of General Douglas MacArthur's return to the Philippines during WWII via Leyte. Journalist German Palabyab gives us a brief history lesson in "Better Leyte Than Never - The 75th Anniversary of General MacArthur's Return to the Philippines," on which his book, The Saga of Leyte Gulf, is based. 

Continuing with the WWII topic, here's a timely Read Again of a story that happened in October 1942: "The Spies Who Came In From the Sea" by Virgilio N. dela Victoria.

And from PF Correspondent Cherie Querol-Moreno, a feature on a new restaurant in Makati called Mijo and its chef, her nephew Enrique Moreno. ("Chef Cooks Up Tribute to Two Grandmas")

From Chef Enrique Moreno comes our Happy Home Cook recipe this week, Oyster Kilaw.

Here are some In The Know links that you will find interesting:

LOOK BACK: Amalia Fuentes, Philippine Movie Queen
https://www.rappler.com/entertainment/news/241814-amalia-fuentes-legacy?fbclid=IwAR0YITKIuiyYzHSKHIHuuuKdw3ZGIPTAm0VI-aifyjtSitXuCXNAd9inQ7g

The Phrase “Go Back Where You Came From” Has a Long, Violent History
https://truthout.org/articles/the-phrase-go-back-where-you-came-from-has-a-long-violent-history/?utm_source=sharebuttons&utm_medium=facebook&utm_campaign=mashshare&fbclid=IwAR3Zx9aCA4GC6JDM0qVULTO7Lo0K56f2apwLfSwCpPIrKwsLFcWhR_m7rvA

How the early Pinoy films found a second home in Hawaii and ignited an industry
https://news.abs-cbn.com/ancx/culture/movies/09/22/19/how-the-early-pinoy-films-found-a-second-home-in-hawaii-and-ignited-an-industry?fbclid=IwAR1v1eimPAMCT6UCgkyFjuEQsSufpc3rF1shoSSjqahv7-VsZ3Q25tpcQ0U

‘The Hanapepe Massacre Mystery’
https://www.thegardenisland.com/2019/09/27/hawaii-news/the-hanapepe-massacre-mystery/

After a “one-man effort” over nine years, October is Filipino American history month in Washington
https://iexaminer.org/after-a-one-man-effort-over-nine-years-october-is-filipino-american-history-month-in-washington/?fbclid=IwAR1dbZI4NAoMz2OhIlOwBop_FSKnJkPSujU1FSKpB5hLMPfqbZEct7TnRd4

5 Books By Women To Read During Filipino American History Month
https://bookriot.com/2019/10/03/books-by-filipinas/?fbclid=IwAR3x59sz7FwRyQflyQoQSzr0zjLvi-pGZEj0rQhv95KEAltjXU-dbgYX4nQ

For our video of the week, Vox featured a story on peacock chairs which were widely-used as photography chairs. The popularity of these throne-like wicker chairs can be traced back to the 1910s-20s when they were built and sold from Bilibid Prison in the Philippines, then a colony of the United States.